Detonator for high-explosive shells



E. GATHMANN. DETONATOR FOR HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLS. APPLICATION FlLEDMAYH, I917- RENEWCD JULY 21, I919- 1,34,536. at nted May 18, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET E. GATHMANN. DETONATOR FOR HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.APPLICATION FILED MAY H, [917- RENEWED JULY 21, I919- l,-3%O,586g a ntedMay 18, 1920.,

E amm- -to be handled with practically absolute -n srarns PATENT ormmEMIL GATHMANN, or 13AL'1IMORE, MARYLAND.

DETONATOR FOR HIGH-EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18,1920.

' Application filed May 11, 1917, Serial No. 167,956. Renewed July 21,1919. Serial No. 312,467.

To aZE whom it may concern Be it known that I EMIL GATHMANN, a citizenof the United tates, residing at Bal-. timore city, in the State ofMaryland, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements inDetonators for High-Explosive 'Shells; and I do hereby declare thefollownection with shells fired from smooth-bore guns,more particularlylarge caliber shells carrying large charges of high explosives and ofthe type developed in the present war" and lmown as torpedo shells.Shells of this type are intended to be fired from light smooth bore gunsof sub-caliber diameter relatively to the bursting chamber of the,shell. and with a relatively low initial velocity, whereb the guns maybe mounted onrelatively lig t mounts and on ordinary merchant marinevessels. Projecting'rearwardly from the bursting chamber of the shell isa tail piece of sub-caliber diameter which enters the bore of the'gun,when the shell is placed in position from the muzzle end of the gun. Thefirin .or propelling charge is secured in a presse cartridge case, inaccordance with the usual practice, and is loaded into the gun throughthe breach end thereof.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a detonatorenabling shells, for example, of the type above described, to carrylargecharges of high explosives and safety before firing. A detonatorconstructed in accordance with the present invention prevents explosionof the bursting charge of high explosive in the shell until the latterhas traveled a safe distance from the muzzle of the n, and operatesautomatically'to insure lgnition of the charge ofhigh explosive intheshell at the time when the charge will be efiectiveto produce thedestructive effect desired.

signed mainly for protection, against submarine torpedo boats. It isdemonstrable that a shell of the character described is infinitel moreefi'ectivethan a shell of small caliber 'aving a high initial velocity,for the reason that a large shell, when exploded armament ofthischaracter is de in the vicinity of a submarine produces highlydestructive effect, whereas a small shell, must score a direct hit, inorder to produce destructive efi'ects.

A full understanding of the invpntion will be attained from the ensuingdetailed description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate a structural embodiment of the invention in a"preferred forml The novel features of the invention will be particularlypointed out and specified in'the claims at the end i of thisspecification.

longitudishowing the parts in the positions they assume after the shellis discharged from the gun and during the flight of the shell to wardits objective. i

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 illustrating a modification.

Like characters of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

' The shell adopted for illustrating the present improvement embodies abursting chamber Aof large caliber, and carrying a large quantity of;high explosive, for example, trinitrotoluol. Said shell is intendedprimarily to be discharged from a smooth bore gun of sub-caliberdiameter relatively to the bursting chamber A and for this purpose theshell may-be provided with tail piece- A of subcaliber diametercorresponding to the caliber of the gun, whereby the I shell may beplaced in 'positionin the. gun from the muzzle end of the latter. Thedetails of construction of the shell, however, form no part of thepresent invention, which may'obviously be embodied in many othertypes'of shells Without departure from' the essential features of theinvention.

At its forward'end', theshell is apertured and threaded, as shown at a,for the insertion and retention of the. priming charge cham her andother parts of the detonator. The

detonator includes means whereby the detonating charge will be normallyheld in a chamber which of considerable strength, and, simultaneouslythe primer -for firing the detonating chargewill be held in a positionout of the zone of operation of the firing hammer. The chamber isprovided with vent ports leading to the exterior air, and

when the detonating charge is held in said,

chamber, it'is prevented from acting on the priming charge or charge ofhigh explosive in the shell,'should the detonating charge explodeaccidentally before the shell is discharged from the gun.- Destructiveeffects of the detonating charge, in case of a premature explosion ofthe. latter, will'be prevented by the chamber in which it is confined,and the pressure created by such accidental detonation of the chargewill find a ready exit to the external air. This adds an importantfactor of safety which is especially desirable where shells of highexplosives are carried on vessels other than regularly equippedandmanned war vessels.

.The priming charge for setting off the charge of high explosive may bepicric acid or other suitable explosive substance, and said charge isconfined within a priming charge-chamber B, usually infthe form of alarge thimble or cup, which is screwed into,

the aperture in the shell body and projects into the latter, in orderthat the priming charge may be' surrounded by the high explosivematerial in the shell.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a detonating vcharge chamber is provided,part of which is located within the priming charge chamber and the otherpart of which is exterior to the priming charge chamber and alsoexterior to the shell body itself. The exterior part or portion of thedetonating charge chamber is formed by means of a conical cap or housingG which is screwed into a vertically projecting annular flange 5 formedon the upper end of the cup B, and.

sald upper portion of the detonating charge chamber 'is separated fromthe priming charge chamber by a lateral flange or wall 6 formed as apart of the cup B. The inner end of the cup is closed by 'a plug orbushing B which is screwed into said inner end. The plug B is formedwith a centrally disposed hollow sleeve C which extends axially to theflange b, the upper end of said sleeve. projecting into an annularrecessv formed in the side wall of the central apertureb of the flangeb. The sleeve C constitutes the inner portion of the detonating chargechamber and it will be noted that said portion-of theidetonating chargechamber is smaller in diameter than'the" exterior portion C and issurrounded by theprim'ing chargein the chamber- B. small lug Bscrewedinto the baseplug or bus closes the inner end of the portion C ofthe detonating charge chamber.

In accordance with the present invention,

the detonating charge and the primer for L firing the same are bothsupported by a duced diameter for. purposes which will hereinafter"appear.

With the abovesetforth construction, a

rotary movement of the shaft D,relatively to the cap C and chamber Bwill effect an axial or longitudinal movement of the shaft in thedetonating charge chamber and said .longitudinal movement'isutilizedlfor the purpose of advancing the detonating charge from a pointremote from the .priming chargeto a point in proximity with the lat--ter and the primer from a point out of the zone of operation of thefiring hammer to a point within said zone of'operation.

\I The detonating charge, indicated at E and usually fulminate ofmercury, is positioned betweenthe' endsof the shaft D. in .a recess orchamber 6 formed in the shaft, and

is preferably protected and pressed into place by an annular cap ring eformed of thin paper reinforced with unbleached linen." A firing hammerF is positioned in the inner: portion C of the detonating -chargechamber'just in advance of the plug B said hammer consisting of ametallic block formed with a firing pin 'or' projection f adapted onforward movement of the hammer to enga e the primer, as will hereinafterappear. orward movement of the hammer F is .limitedby the inner ed 0 ofthe thickened portion F of the sleeve A spring F interposed between the,thick ened wall portion F and the front face of the hammer normallyholds the-hammerput of engagement with the primer, and, during the.flight of the shell, the action of the spring in so holding the hamm'erwill be: assisted by the natural forces'acting' on. the

shell. On impact, or when the motion of ':the shell is arrested, theforce produced thereby overcomes the spring tension and the hammer ismoved forward into engagement with the primer.

he' inner end of the shaft D is fornied with a portion D of reduceddiameter which enters the space vinclosed by l the thickened portion Fof the sleeve or det- 'onating ch amberwall. An ordinary primer orpercussion firing cap -G is, located'in' a recess in the shaft attheinner extremity of said reduced portion-,'*and-'js held in posuchposition the detonating charge E is' sition by a cup 9 screwed into theend of the shaft and provided with a central opening whereby the firingpin f may strike the primer at the proper time. In the shaft D, there isformed a channel H having lateral branches h which connect the primer Gwiththe detonating charge, permitting the flame produced by firing theprimer G to reach the detonating charge.

Normally; the carrier or shaft D is held in the position indicated inFig. 3. In

located at a point remote from the priming .charge in the chamber B andwithin the exterior portion C of the detonating chamber. ,At this time,the detonating charge is separated from the priming charge'by the wall6', which is made comparatively thick and strong as possible and also bythe thick practicall solid portion of the shaft D, behind t e detonatingcharge,

I said wall and shaft together forming an effective barrier whichprevents destructive detonating fle'cts from reaching the primingcharge, when the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 3. Simultaneouslythe cap or primer G is located at a point beyond the limit of movementof the firing hammer, so that any possible movement of the hammer, dueto jarring of the shell, or any other cause, would have no effectwhatsoever on the primer G. As an additional factor of safety theexterior portion of the detonating charge chamber is provided with ports0, leadingto the exterior air, but normally provided with very thin.

cl'osing diaphragms or plugs '0 which prevent access of water or dirtto'the detonat ing charge chamber. These closures 0' are relativelylight and practically form no dbstru'ction to the free exit of pressurefrom within the detonating charge chamber, .especially pressure suchas'would be created by explosion of the detonating charge.

Preferably, locking mechanism is provided for locking the movablecarrier D in the safety position above described. As shown, the carrieror shaft D is provided with a lateral slot k .which is located. outsidethe detonating, charge chamber when the parts are in the positionindicated in- F 1g. 3. Surrounding the shaft D, above the cap C, is asplit locking ring K having holes adapted to register with thelateralslot is. The locking ring K may be connected to the shaft D by means ofa cotter pin K inserted through the holes in the locking ring and thelateral slot is. When the locking ring K is locked to the shaft D, asshown in.Fig. 3, the ring K engages the outer end of the cap C andprevents inward movement of the shaft D. Just-before firing the shell,the locking ring is removed, which may be accomplished by withdrawin thecotter pin K. To assistin the with rawlower portion, as shown at I ingoperation, the cotter pin maybe-provided with a ring K inserted in thehead of the pin.

The detonator of the present invention is intended primarily for use inconnection with shells fired from smooth bore guns, as heretoforeexplained, and, for this purpose,

flight of the shell, the pressure or resistance of the air will impart.a rotary movement to the vanes L, thereby rotating the shaft D.

As the latter is screwed into the cap C, the

rotary movement causes the shaft to move rearwardly, thereby advancinthe detonating char e E intothe portion of the detonating c arge chamberin proximity to the priming charge in chamber B, and also advancing thepercussion cap or primer G into the zone-of operation of the firinghammer F, whereby it may be engaged by the firing hammer to explode thedetonating charge, on impact of the shell, as shown in Fig. 4e.

- The wall of the portion C of the detonating charge chamber isrelatively thin, permitting the explosion of the detonating charge toreadily rupture the wall and the flame to reach the priming charge inchamber B. Outward movement of the shaft D may be limited by a collar dformed on the shaft and adapted to. engage the inner face -of the wallof portion G of thedetonating charge chamber at the. apex of the latter.

" In somecases, it is desirable to delay'the explosion ofthedetonatingcharge for an instant after the percussion cap G has beenexploded by the firing hammer, for exam 1e,v

it may be desirable to explode the s ellunder water. Fig. 5 illustratesa modification which is especially adapted for this purpose. In thechannel (2 of the shaft or carrier D there is inserted a delay actionpellet or fuse 1 of black powder'or other slow burning substance, whichwill prevent the flame produced by explosion of the cap G fromreachingthe detonatin charge E. immediately. The ressure pro need by explosionof the cap the detonating charge chamber through vents may be exhaustedinto I I 1' formed in the Shaft 1). ,In the modified form, the shaft Dis formed of two portions, an upper portion which is crewed into the.The detonating charge E may be further protected by a cap E1" screwed onjthe upper portion of the shaft. A pin (1 inserted through the upper'duced cross sectional area formed portion of the shaft takes the placeof the integrally formed collard illustrated in Fi s. 3 and 4.

. rom the foregoingit will be seen that the outer end of the shaft orcarrier D forms Ya I member of the carrier which projects through. andbeyond'the wall. of the detonating charge chamber, for cooperation withthe external locking and retainingv means formed .by the split sleeve Kand'the manually releasable meansor cotter pin K; It

will be further noted that when the parts are assembled as shown inFig.1, the priming charge chamber and priming. charge therein arelocated on the inner side of the wall of the shell, and the detonatingcharge chamber is located mainly on the outer side of said Wall,although its extension of resleeve G extends within the body of theshell'and in proximity to the priming charge -in the priming chargechamber formedby the cup B;

. What is claimed is -1. A detonator for ,high explosive shellscomprising a priming chargechamber, a

movable carrier supporting a detonating charge and a primer for firingthe detonating charge, a longitudinally -mov-able firing.

hammer adapted on impact to fire the primer and. thereby the detonatingcharge, said carrier being held normally in a'position wherein the.detonating charge is at a point a remote from the priming" charge andthe primer is out of the zone of operationof the firing hammer,and-means operable by movable carrier supporting a detonating charge anda' primerffor firing the detonat-v ing .charge, a delay action fuseinterposed between the primer. and the detonating charge, alongitudinally movable firing hammer adapted on impact to firethe primerand thereby the detonating charge, said carrier being held normally in aposition wherein the detonating charge is at a point remote from thepriming charge .and the primer is; out of the zone of operation of thefiring v hammer, and means operable during the flight of the shell forpositively moving the carrier to advance the detonating charge to apoint in proximity to the priming charge a'ndto advance the pri-niegi.into the zone of operation of the firing hammer.

3. detonator for high ex losive shells comprising a priming chargchamber, a

charge and a primer for firing the detonat -for limiting the movement ofthe firing the the] resistance of the air tothe flight of the shell ingcharge, a firing hammer movable -longitu i nally of the axlsof movementof the car- 1 rier adapted on impact to fire the pruner and therebythe-detonating charge, means hammer, said carrier being held normally ina position wherein the detonating charge is at a point remote from thepriming charge and the primer is beyond the limitof movement of thefirin hammer, and means operable during-the flight of the shell formoving the carrier to advance the detonating charge to a point inproximity to the priming charge and to advance the primer into the zoneof ope'ration'of the firing hammer.

4. A. detonator for high explosivesshells comprising a priming chargechamber, a movable carrier supportin a detonating charge. and a primerfor firmg the detonatin charge, a firing hammer movable longitu v inallyof the axis of movement of the carrier, a spring for normally holdingthe ham: mer against movement but adapted to per-- mit movement. ofthe'hammer on impact to fire the primer and thereby the detonatingcharge, said carrier bein held normally in a position wherein theetonating charge is at a point remote 'from the primin operation of thefirin' hammer, and-means operable during the ight of the shell formoving the 'carrler to advance the-detonating charge and the primer isout of the zone 0 a charge to a point in roximity to the prim- I ingcharge and to a va'nce the primer into "the zone ofoperat'ion of thefiring hammer. 5. A vdetonator for high explosive shells comprising apriming charge chamber, a detonating charge chamber having:venting vports therein leading to the exterior air, a movable carrier supporting-a' i detonating charge and a primer for firing the'detonat ing charge,a longitudinally movable firing in the detonating charge is at a pointremote from the priming charge and in proxthe zone ofoperation of thefirin hammer,

hammer adapted on impact to fire the primer and therehy the'detonatingcharge, said carrier being held normally in a position whereandmeansoperable during the flight of the shell for positively moving thecarrier to advance the detonatin charge to a'point in proximity. to theprlming charge and to ing charge, a longitudinally movable firing hammeradapted on impact to fire the primer explosive shells;

and thereby the detonating charge, said carrier being held normally in aposition where;

the detonating charge is at a point readvance the primer into the zoneof opera- .120

mote from the priming charge and the primer is out of the zone ofoperation of the firing hammer, and means including vanes driven bytheresistance of the air to the flight of the shell for moving thecarrier to advance the detonating charge to a point in proximity to thepriming charge and to advance the primer into the'zone of operation ofthe firing hammer.

7. A detonator for high explosive shells embodying a priming chargechamber, an elongated detonating charge chamber having ends of unequalcross sectional area and with the end of the smaller area located withinthe. walls of the priming charge chamber and the end of the larger areaexterior to the walls of the priming charge chamber, a detonating chargecarrier mounted in said chamber and movable to carry the detonatingcharge from the end of larger area intothe end of the chamber of smallerarea, and a barrier normally separating the detonating charge from thepriming charge, a member detachably associated with said carrier andlocated beyond the outer walls of said detonating charge chamber in theexterior air for operatively locking and unlocking said carrier with thedetonating charge .within the end .of the chamber of larger area, and amechanism for igniting the detonating charge. when the shell reaches itstarget or objective.

8. A detonator for high explosive shells embodying a priming chargechamber, an elongated detonating charge chamber, having ends of unequalcross sectional area and with the end of the smaller area located withinthe walls of the priming charge chamber, and the end of the larger areaexterior to the walls of the priming charge chamber, a detonating chargecarrier mounted in said chamber and a member detachable from the saidcarrier and located beyond the .outer walls of said detonating chargechamber in the exterior air for operatively locking and unlocking saidcarrier within the end of .the chamber of larger area and a mechanismfor igniting the detonating charge when the shell reaches its target orobjective.

9. A detonator for high-explosive shells embodyi'ng an elongateddetonating chargechamber, having ends of unequal cross sectional-areaand with the end of the smaller area located within the walls of theshell, and the end of the larger'area extending to the exterior of thewalls of the shell, a detonating charge carrier mounted in said chamber,and having a member projecting beyond the outer walls'of said detonatincharge chamber .into the exterior air wit removable means cooperatingtherewith for operatively locln'ng and unlocking said carrier within theend of the chamber of the'lar'ger area, a delay action fuse, and amechanism for igniting the same when the shell reaches its target orobjective.

10. The combination with a high explo-- sive shell, of a detonatormounted at the forward portion thereof, embodying an elongateddetonating charge chamber having its end portions of unequal crosssectional area, a priming charge located around the chamber portion ofthe smaller area, a carrier for a detonating charge movable in thedetonating charge chamber from its portion of larger area to its portionof sfnaller area, and manually detachable means associated with thedetonating charge carrier and located on the exterior of the detonatorfor normally locking the detonating char e carrier to hold thedetonating charge wit in the portion of the detonating charge chamber oflarger area. i

11. The combination with a high explosive shell, of a detonator mountedat the forward portion thereof, embodying an elongated detonating chargechamber having its end portions of unequal cross sectional area, apriming charge located around the chamber portion of the smaller area, a

'carrier for a detonating charge movable in the detonating chargechamber from its portion of larger area to its portion of smaller area,and manually removable means associated with the detonating chargecarrier and located on the exterior of the detonator for normallylocking the detonating charge carrier to hold the detonating chargewithin the portion of the detonating charge chamber of larger area, andmeans 'for ob- ,talining delay ignition of the detonating 'charge whenthe shell reaches its target or objective.

12. A detonator for high explosive shells or like bodies of the classdescribed, comprising a priming charge chamber adapted to be firmlysecured within the bursting charge chamber ofthe shell, an elongateddetonatingcharge chamber having endsof unequal cross sectional area andwith the end of the smaller area located within the walls of the primingcharge chamber and the end of larger area exterior to the priming chargechamber, a detonating charge carrier mounted in said detonating chargechamber and movable from the larger into the smaller end thereof, amember detachably connected with said carrier and located beyond theouter walls of said detonating charge chamthe bursting charge chamber ofthe shell, a

detonating charge chamber having a part of its area remote and a partextending in proximity to the priming charge, a carrier for supporting adetonating charge in the detonating charge chamber movable from a pointremote to a point in roximity to the primingcharge, and detac able'meanslocated outside of the detonating charge chamber operatively. engaging,with a detachable member engagin said carrier and likewise locatedoutside 0 said 'chamberfor normally lockingthe detonating charge at aposition remote from the priming charge.

a 14. A detonator for high explosive shells or like bodies, comprising apriming charge .chamber having a' priming charge therein, the saidchamber'being adapted to be firmly secured within the bursting chargecham-' ber of the shellfa detonating charge cham ber, a movable'carriertherein supporting a detonating, charge and .aprimer cap-for firing thedetonating charge, a longitudinally movable firing mechanism adapted on,impact tofire the primer cap and thereby the detonating char e, anddetachable means for locating and 100 ing the carrier normally in aposition whereinthe detonating charge is at 'a (point remote from thepriming charge and the-percussion cap is out of operative relation withthe 'firing "mechanism, said locking means being, operable from the ex:terior of the detonator, and means consisting of a vaned memberoperable'after said locking means have been released and 1 during theflight of the shell for advancing the bursting charge chamber on'atingcharge chamber, a movable carrier therein supporting a detonating chargeand of the shell, a deta percussion cap for firing the detonatingcharge,a longitudinally movable firing mechanism adapted to fire the percussioncap and thereby the detonating charge when the shell reaches a targetorobjective, and

detachable retaining means for holding the carrier normally in aposition where the detonating charge is at a oint remotefrom the primingcharge andt e percussion cap is out of operative relation with thefiring mechanism, said retaining means being provided with independentdetachable vlockingmeans engaging therewith, and means operable from theexterior of-the detonator after said locking means have been releasedfor advancing the detonating charge to a point in proximity to thepriming charge and to advance the rcussion cap within operative relationto t e firing mechanism. I

1-6. A detonator for high explosive shells or like bodies, embodyingapriming charge chamber adapted to be firmly secured within the burstingcharge chamber of the .shell, a detonating charge chamber having a partof its area remote and apart extending in proximity to the primingcharge, a carrier for supporting a detonating charge in the detonatingcharge chamber movable from a point remote to a point in proximity tothe priming charge, and detachable means con- I sisting of a splitsleeve or ring located 'outside of the detonating charge chamberoperatively engaging with a member of said car.- rier likewise locatedoutside ofsaid chamber for. normally locating the detonating 1 charge ata position remote from i the prim ing charge, and detachable means foroperatively locking the said'split sleeve or ,ring to the said member ofthe carrier located outside of said chamber, a

MIL- GATHMANN.

